Town Council approves budget

Following a brief public hearing during which there was no comment, the Thermopolis Town Council — with Mayor Mike Mortimore absent — approved the budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year on third reading, as well as Resolution 543 to officially adopt it.

According to the numbers, the upcoming fiscal year’s revenues include: $3,754,918 in the General Fund, including $1,091,820 cash carryover; $4,507,641 in the Enterprise Fund; $3,084,500 in Enterprise Fund-Depreciation Reserve for transfers, loan, grant and cash carryover; $575,600 in Insurance Trust Fund; $5,500 in the Nicholson Trust Fund, including a $4,650 cash carryover; and $400 in the Revolving Loan Fund.

Budget expenditures include: $3,754,918 in the General Fund, including a cash reserve of $100,000; $2,955,530 in Enterprise Fund – 100 percent depreciation; $3,084,500 in Enterprise Fund – Capital Outlay; $575,600 in Insurance Trust Fund; $5,500 in the Nicholson Trust Fund; and $400 in the Revolving Loan Fund.

In other action, council approved three catering permits for Shorty’s Liquor, for the park concert and pig wrestling at the fairgrounds, both on July 31, and for Oktobrewfest on Oct. 6. A 24-hour malt beverage permit was approved for Thermopolis Cowboy Rendezvous Rodeo, for the rodeo this weekend. Regulation will be done through identification checks and wristbands for those 21 and over.

Approval was granted to allow the discharge of personal fireworks near the skate park prior to the main show; the request came from Derek Burrows. Fire Chief Mark Collins said the fire department was on board, so long as Burrows took care of all clean up and traffic control. Collins noted the first year the discharge of fireworks was allowed was something of a disaster but the past couple years things have been good. Collins further added the department has been burning off dead vegetation, at least up to the base of T Hill.

Council also approved allowing the Economic Development Company (EDC), which shares building space at Town Hall, to “piggyback” on the town’s internet in order to save the EDC some money. EDC had previously been paying for its own internet service.

Also during the meeting, Town Engineer Anthony Barnett reported the water line on Park Street in the state park should be installed this week and turned on next week, with prep for paving following. Regarding the Canyon Hills work, Barnett said work started Tuesday and will hopefully be done by the end of the week.

Bill Malloy spoke to the recent WAM convention he attended, noting there were great speakers and among the points they addressed were dealing with the general public and developing an “attitude of gratitude.” Malloy said after attending the convention he’s grateful to live in Thermopolis as our town has its issues but they are minute compared to what he learns other cities have.

One of his favorite parts of the convention is the “cracker barrel” sessions, during which people from towns of similar population can get together and discuss issues. Among those discussed by representative of towns with population 500-4,000 are nuisances, franchise fees and street repair costs.

Malloy also brought up the idea of advertising, through simple signage, what projects and equipment are paid for through the one-cent sales tax so people can see what that money goes to.